Letters to the editor

This refers to ‘MSME loan freebies, and the NPA fallout’ (October 18). Abiding with the continuing economic reform measures, banks and shadow banks are reaching out to people to offer support for various economic activities. As the banking sector plays an effective role in the flow of institutional credit to the different segments of the economy, there is always pressure to provide credit, particularly on public sector banks.

Despite being part of the same economy, the fact that public sector banks are contributing more dud assets denotes that there are many flaws in credit creation, delivery and recovery of the dues on time. Taking advantage of technology, public sector banks must look for ensuring a robust system to make the entire process flawless. Banks should not jeopardise its interests while ensuring the viability and feasibility of the projects of the MSME borrowers.

Liberalised lending and relaxation in the asset classification and income recognition for MSME loans should not be taken as tools to camouflage the reality of the asset. Extending liberalised credit facilities and related concessions without providing other infrastructure to enable the MSMEs to become successful in their endeavours will pave the way for the generation of bad assets.

Kottayam

Apropos ‘A new Chetak to electrify the millennials’ (October 18). Kudos to Bajaj Auto for coming out with an electric variant of two-wheelers well ahead of schedule. The fact that they called it Chetak, an iconic name that instils nostalgia, is just the icing on the cake. Since greener fuel and clean energy is the future, patience is the name of the game here. Once the market accepts this technology and it becomes part of the ecosystem, there will be no looking back for anyone who forays into this segment. Now biggest task for the government is to provide necessary infrastructure for such kind of vehicles to run on roads smoothly.

Noida

This refers to ‘No better place to invest than in India, Sitharaman tells global investors’(October 18). The Finance Minister has expressed confidence in India becoming a $5-trillion economy by 2024-25 while speaking at Columbia University, citing the rise in the economic status from $1.7 trillion when the NDA took over power in 2014 to $2.7 trillion in 2019. But this rise in the economy has taken place in five years. To become a $5-trillion economy in the next five years, it has to grow to double the value. The question of doubling in the next five years appears to be too optimistic considering the various related factors. The government should work out a practical programme and frame a suitable working schedule of action with periodic monitoring of the growth.

Coimbatore

The identical findings and figures in both Global Hunger Index (GHI) and UNICEF’s ‘State of the World’s Children’ reports starkly show that the incidence of malnutrition is alarmingly high in India. They underline the enormous task before the National Nutrition Mission to make India free from malnutrition. India’s position at 102 out of 117 countries is a reality check.

It is scandalous that over 90 per cent of children between the ages of six months and two years in India, according to the GHI, are not fed a ‘minimally acceptable diet’. UNICEF data put the stunting rate among India’s under-five children at an abysmal 37.9 per cent.

Poverty, poor sanitation, unhygienic living conditions, lack of access to clean water and ignorance conspire to cause malnutrition. It follows that the economic malaise be fought to succeed in the fight against ‘serious levels of hunger’. It is a paradox that granaries overflow and still people go hungry. Hunger when food more than required is available is a failure of the system and calls for its radical overhaul.

Maruthancode

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